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Starlink and SpaceX have an even closer relationship than most other Musk companies; Starlink is a wholly owned subsidiary of SpaceX.

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tgma 17 hours ago | parent | next [-]

> Starlink is a wholly owned subsidiary of SpaceX.

Starlink is not a separate entity — it's a division of Space Exploration Technologies Corp.

From Terms of Service[1]:

> Your order for two-way satellite-based internet service (“Services”) and a Starlink antenna, Wi-Fi router and mount (“Starlink Kit” or “Kit”) is subject to the terms (“Terms”) of this Starlink agreement for the United States and its territories. These Terms, those terms incorporated by reference, and the details you agree to in your online order (“Order”) form the entire agreement (“Agreement”) between you (“customer” or “user”) and Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (known as “Starlink” in these Terms).

[1]: https://www.starlink.com/legal/documents/DOC-1020-91087-64?r...

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jazzyjackson 12 hours ago | parent | next [-]

I didn't realize SpaceX was just a nickname for Space Exploration Technologies Corp, TIL

So the Terms of service is with SpaceX but apparently there is such a thing as Starlink Services LLC, but I'm just going off Wikipedia, all this corporate structuring is opaque to me.

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tgma 10 hours ago | parent [-]

> SpaceX was just a nickname for Space Exploration Technologies Corp

It's slightly more than that: it's a legally recognized nickname for the actual entity, technically called a "Fictitious Business Name" (aka DBA, "doing business as") registered with the state.

> there is such a thing as Starlink Services LLC

One might register a bunch of shell companies in various jurisdictions, holding various assets and contracts during the course of business, for tax reasons, to limit the blast radius of liabilities and facilitate business (for example, retail gift cards, e.g. Amazon, are often issued by a separate legal entity.) I think there's a qualitative distinction there with what Berkshire Hathaway or perhaps Alphabet Inc. do with their separate businesses that are hands-off subsidiaries. It appears at the moment Starlink is very much intertwined with SpaceX and user contracts and the trademark are actually directly owned by SpaceX, so not sure what they are using that particular LLC for.

	▲	inemesitaffia 7 hours ago \| parent [-]
		It's for users outside the USA

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inemesitaffia 7 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

Outside the US, for Internet, your agreements are with Starlink Services LLC. Not with SpaceX

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kortilla 17 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

Starlink isn’t a company. It’s a product offered by spacex. Just like Falcon, Starship, and Dragon.

	▲	lupusreal 15 hours ago \| parent [-]
		Starlink Services LLC is a wholly owned subsidiary of SpaceX.